Space-current device



SPACE CURRENT DEVICE Filed April 28, 1925 h m Rf H m W. E m I I WITNESSES: 5, #44602.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ILIA E. MOUROMTSEFF, OF WILKINSBU'RG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNQB TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMZP{LN 'Y, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA SPACE-CURRENT DEVICE Application filed April 28, 1925-. Serial No. 26,339.

My invention relates to space-current devices and particularly to triode vacuum-tube devices.

An object of my invention is to provide, in

. a triode device, auxiliary supporting means for a grid electrode.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a triode device, a more conveniently assembled grid lead.

Another object of my invention is to simplify the problems of manufacture of a highpower triode.

In the manufacture of high-power triode devices, it has been customary to embody therein a tubular metallic anode having an open end and a closed end, formed by drawing from a blank sheet of metal. In this construction, it has been customary to provide a glass portion closing the open end of the cylinder and having members adapted to support a cathode and a grid electrode. There is also provided a plurality of seal wires making connection to the grid and cathode members. This construction has been found satisfactory for service in the generation of radio-frequency oscillations of about the order of 1500 kc. or less, but, at higher frequencies, difiiculty has been experienced in conducting the charging current to the grid through the seals as previously made. Also, some difiiculty has been experienced in accurately positioning the unsupported end of the grid structure.

My invention provides means whereby a lower-resistance lead to the grid and a greater lateral stiflness thereof are obtained, and whereby inspection means are provided for the positioning of the grid electrode.

Other objects and structural details of my invent-ion will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompinying drawing, wherein:

The single figure is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of an embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing, a cylindrical metallic anode 1 has thinned edges to which glass members 2 and 3 are sealed. The glass member 2 has an integral re-entrant portion 4 to which is attached a jacket tube 5 and on which is formed a press 6, through which cathode leadwires 7, Sand 9. are inserted.

The jacket tube5 has mounted, near its free end, a grid-supporting band to which are attached. the grid foundation wires 12 and 14}. The structure so far described is, in general, similar to thestructure of the prior art except that no grid lead is provided through the glass closure member 2 in the device of my invention. I

The glass closure member 3 similarly has a re-entrant portion 15 havinga press lfi formed thereon. Through the press 16 is in serted a grid lead seal wire 17; Theupper ends of the longitudinal grid foundation Wires 12 and 1d are attached to a lead wire 18 which is connected to the seal wires 17 by a flexible member 19. The member 19 is formed of a flat sheet of metal having a pinrality of longitudinal slits defining a plurality of bars 20 and rolled around a small cylinder of substantially the size of the wires 17 and 18. The ends are then pressed toward each other to expand the middle section into a flexible portion intermediate a plurality of hub portions 21, which has a considerable lengthwise elasticity, but is relatively stiff laterally.

The seal wire 17, the flexible member 19 and the foundation wire 18 constitute a grid lead which is substantially straight and which is of a minimum length, having a minimum ohmic resistance and a minimum inductance. The low impedance values ensure a minimum energy loss and enable the structure to carry a larger current without undue heating or other difficulty.

The presence of the glass closure 3 at the upper end of the anode structure -1 permits inspection of the upper end of the grid structure and accurate positioning centrally with much less difficulty than occurs when the end of the anode 1 is closed by an opaque portion.

By this construction, I am enabled to simplify the manufacture of triode devices and am enabled to pass to the grid member a much higher charging current than is possible by previous constructions.

While I have shown but a single embodiment of my invention in the accompanying description, it is capable of various changes and modifications and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are imposed by the prior art or by the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A space-current device having an envelope and an electrode and means for sup porting said electrode from opposite ends of said envelope including a hollow spheroid having co-directional slits in its walls.

2. A space-current device having a tubular electrode, another electrode therein, and means, attached to the opposite ends of said first electrode, for supporting and positioning said other electrode, including two endhubs connected by curvedbars of sheet metal evenly spaced around their peripheries.

3. In a vacuum tube, an electrode, supports therefor at each end of the tube, one of said supports including a yieldable connection comprising a cage-like member having bars co-directional with said supports.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of April ILIA E. MOUROMTSEFF. 

